Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (Slovak Univerzita Pavla Jozefa Šafárika v Košiciach) is a university located in Košice, Slovakia. It was founded in 1959 and is organized into five faculties. The university is named after Pavel Jozef Šafárik, a 19th-century Slovak philologist, poet, and historian.
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are among the most widely used type of nanoparticles due to their antimicrobial properties. While their application in disease treatment is well established, less is known about their ecological effects after they are released into ecosystems, where they may affect microorganisms and disrupt ecological balance. A green synthesis using Sambucus nigra fruit extract was applied to prepare AgNPs of two sizes, and their interactions with Brevundimonas vesicularis USM1, Pseudarthrobacter oxydans USM2, Pseudomonas putida USM4, Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 were examined. The nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis, TEM, and DLS, and microbial growth was assessed using microplate assays and colony enumeration. No significant inhibition of E. coli ATCC 10536, S. aureus ATCC 25923, or P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 was observed in the presence of small (22 nm) or large (66 nm) AgNPs. Growth inhibition occurred in P. oxydans USM2 and P. putida USM4 exposed to small AgNPs, and in B. vesicularis USM1, P. oxydans USM2, and P. putida USM4 exposed to large AgNPs. The strain-specific responses indicate a size-dependent impact on bacteria, suggesting potential effects on microbiome structure and function. This study provides insights supporting environmental risk evaluation and safer-by-design development of AgNP-based materials.
Beetle genetics is becoming increasingly important in research on agricultural ecosystems, not only from a basic biological perspective but also for practical applications in pest management, biodiversity, and agroecosystem sustainability. Our study analyzed the genetic variability of beetle populations (Harpalus rufipes and Silpha obscura) under two types of agricultural management systems—organic and conventional—using RAPD markers. Out of six tested markers (OPB 5, OPB 8, OPB 11, OPB 12, OPB 14, and OPB 18), three markers (OPB 11, OPB 14, and OPB 18) demonstrated clear genetic differentiation between beetle samples collected from organically and conventionally cultivated wheat. The results of DNA fingerprinting and t-SNE analysis confirmed the formation of two genetic clusters corresponding to the management type. Jaccard similarity coefficient values indicated moderate to strong genetic similarity within individual management systems, while similarity between systems was weaker. These findings suggest that agronomic practices influence the genetic structure of beetle populations, likely due to ecological and anthropogenic factors such as pesticide use and landscape modification. The study emphasizes the importance of molecular markers in assessing population-level responses to agroecosystem management and their contribution to sustainable agriculture.
The aim of the study is to present the results of the adaptation of the TEIP (Teacher Efficacy for Inclusive Practices) research instrument (Sharma et al., 2012) and the analysis of factors potentially influencing teachers' perceived efficacy in implementing inclusive practices. The research sample included 506 teachers. Through confirmatory factor analysis, it was demonstrated that the modified three-factor model of the TEIP scale best fits the data provided by primary and secondary school teachers in Slovakia. In terms of teacher subsamples, the model showed a better fit with data from primary school teachers compared to secondary school teachers. This may indicate that the nature of inclusive practices in secondary schools is somewhat different, which is subsequently reflected in a less accurate model fit, as evidenced by both the incremental and absolute fit index values. We identified statistically significant differences in teachers' perceived efficacy in inclusive teaching and in managing student behaviour, based on their achieved career level and leadership roles. Furthermore, significant differences were found in teachers' perceived efficacy in collaborating with other educational stakeholders, according to gender, the number of specialised activities undertaken, leadership roles, and participation in training aimed at developing competencies for implementing inclusive education. The research indicates that teachers' self-efficacy in inclusive teaching and managing student behaviour is influenced by their experience and skills, while in collaboration with other school stakeholders it is affected by gender-related specifics, involvement in school life through other pedagogical or professional roles, and the development of inclusive educator competencies. Holding leadership positions significantly contributes to all three components of teacher self-efficacy.
Objective: Klippel-Tr & eacute;naunay syndrome (KTS) is a combined slow-flow vascular malformation associated with excessive growth of limbs. The aim of this review is to summarize the knowledge about the presumed etiology, the most common anomalies associated with KTS, the diagnostic approach, and the treatment strategies. Methods: A literature search was conducted between January and May 2025 using PubMed and Google Scholar databases, focusing on terms such as Klippel-Tr & eacute;naunay syndrome and PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS). Conclusions: KTS manifests as a cluster of congenital malformations affecting the limb and typically affects the lower extremity unilaterally. It results from a postzygotic activating mutation in the PIK3CA gene which leads to overactivation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway. The clinical presentation is variable, ranging from mild forms to severe disease with the visceral organ involvement and thrombo-hemorrhagic complications. MRI-angiography is the preferred imaging modality to assess the extent of vascular malformations and tissue involvement. Management of KTS often requires a multidisciplinary approach. In 2022, the FDA approved alpelisib as a systemic treatment option for patients with severe forms of KTS.
A rare and threatened pleurocarpous amblystegiaceaen dendrothelmatic moss, Anacamptodon splachnoides, was the subject of in vitro establishment and propagation. Tests on growth and rapid propagation were applied with the aim of preparing plant material for outdoor ex situ conservation and reintroduction into nature. This integrative conservation approach provides novel methodologies applicable to conservation programmes and management strategies, while also providing fundamental insights into the species' biology. It further enables research on the species without harming its native populations, allowing for the exploration of questions raised during this investigation, such as spore biology and sex expression. A. splachnoides acts as both a shelter and signal species for a special microhabitat type, which also supports other rare organisms, and prolonged drought seems to affect reproduction, spore dispersal, and germinability more strongly than gametophore survival.
